R.1262 Transcontinental Stock Car - yellow - TR 2742

Two very unusual finds:both unopened and still sealed as they left the factory.The final version of the Transcontinental Stock Car with 'TR' shield sold as the R.1262 Canadian Pacific Stock Car, this packaging dates from 1971.

The model dates from 1965 when a batch of 3000 models were made. At the end of that year 500 were recorded as being left in the company's Margate stores.Whether there was a temporary shortage of the Canadian Pacific Stock Car or simply a desire to unload surplus old stock from the Canadian warehouse is not certain; but most probably the latter.

Close-up of the hand-stamped 'R' number on the base of the bubble pack

1971 was a troubled time for the company and there was a pressing need to reduce as much stock from the Canadian warehouse as possible. One supposes that company thinking was that, as both the Transcontinental and the Canadian Pacific models were the same colour, retailers and customers wouldn't be particularly concerned as to the lettering detail on the model.A very few of these models have survived still originally sealed in their Canadian bubble packs.